3,126

(15 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

Uncle Joe ... that's frickin' hilarious! Great stuff!

3,127

(3 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

You are deservedly welcome, JJJ.

3,128

(14 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)

I completely agree with BGD about getting a multi-effects pedal board. I bought a Boss ME-80 a year or more ago, and enjoy using it every day. The BOSS products are (IMHO) the easiest ones to learn to use, very durable, and don't require a lot of scrolling through digital screens and what not. Here's what mine looks like:

http://cms.rolandus.com/assets/images/products/gallery/me-80_top_gal.jpg

Here's a link to BOSS's website with all the details on this one:

http://www.bossus.com/products/me-80/

For a more general idea on what all the various effects do, this article is quite straight forward:

http://www.justinbrownguitar.com/GuitarPedalGuide.html

Buying several individual pedals can get into big $$$ quickly. For most of us, a decent multi-pedal covers the bases and is quite economical. The ME-80 sells for about $300, which would only get you 3 or 4 individual pedals. I hope this is helpful!

3,129

(580 replies, posted in Bands and artists)

Tangerine Dream    "Blue Bridge"    Zurich, 2012

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNN6N0m1mXU

A beautiful duet featuring the late Edgar Froese on guitar, and the lovely Linda Spa on saxophone. Enjoy!

3,130

(35 replies, posted in Electric)

Awesome pics, Topdown! I don't think any the less about any of these musicians for using monitors, or any other tool or technology which help produce a great show. Here's a cool shot of the Brussells Philharmonic orchestra ... rustling papers will soon be a thing of the past:

https://techfortheclassicalsinger.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/8164455987_3e1928bc3b_z.jpg?w=614&h=408

3,131

(281 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

Also reporting from Nova Scotia, Canada.

Our winters can be quite unpredictable and very changeable, with 24-hour temperature swings sometimes spanning 30 degrees. A south-easterly flow of off the Grand Banks will give us mild and windy weather. Then a sudden southward shift in the jet stream will send north-westerlies and bitter cold air in overnight. Last winter, we had steady snowfall from late-November until mid-April, but we never really saw any appreciable snowfall this year until this past week, with another blast coming tonight.

This has been our yoyo weather pattern for my whole life living here, and it makes things interesting, to say the least.

3,132

(2 replies, posted in Bands and artists)

A sudden pulmonary embolism took the life of Germany's Edgar Froese on January 20, 2015. Edgar would have celebrated his 71st birthday this coming June, and yet was still touring the world with his signature musical creations.

Edgar's primary legacy to music is the formation of the group "Tangerine Dream" in 1967, which was still touring in 2014. TD is perhaps best known for pioneering electronic / symphonic music, with strong classical influences. Over their amazing 47-year career, TD pioneered numerous electronic instruments, recording effects, and digital sequencers ... to name only a few. Edgar was also a decent guitarist, and often stepped away from his keyboards to play his smooth guitar style. Tomorrow's "Prog Rock Chill Out" will feature concert footage of a piece featuring Edgar playing guitar live.

The modern era of music would not have been the same with out you, Edgar ... Rest in Peace.

http://www.tangram-dream.fr/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/edgar-05-14.jpg

3,133

(35 replies, posted in Electric)

I saw these gadgets at a local music store, so a person can clip their tablet to their mike stand. Whether sitting or standing, it looked like a great idea:

http://www.ikmultimedia.com/joomla/images/ik_images/product_page/iklipxpand/iklip_xpand_main_image_718x450_srgb.jpg

Here's the link to the site where there's more detail:

http://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/iklipxpand/

If I ever get a tablet, it would be a welcome relief to farting around with a clumsy ring binder.

3,134

(15 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

Don't know what's "missing" from your arsenal, Zurf, but I know I use my 12-string more than I anticipated when I bought it.

I know you're an angler, so I'll equate a 12-string to my 10' 7wt fly rod. It isn't the "go to" rod, but when casting big Dahlbergs and Sneaky Petes to smallmouth bass in structure, it's the best tool for the job.

3,135

(35 replies, posted in Electric)

I can't criticize anyone for wanting to use a music stand, tablet, etc., if they need it to improve the quality of the music. I don't think it's a bad reflection on them at all, and have seen a lot of top-notch musicians using stands over the years. I personally find a sheet helpful if I'm singing and playing at the same time ... my poor old brain can only do so much!

3,136

(11 replies, posted in My local band and me)

No worries, BGD ... kinda figured that.

I believe your DeVille uses 6L6 tubes? I wonder what would happen if you simply swapped in some EL34's ... they tend to break up earlier, and that might give you the extra ooomph you're looking for. My Peavey VK212 originally came with 6L6's, and I really like the difference that the Sovtek EL34's have made (switched them last year).

As far a "dream amplifier" goes, I'd love to have a Hughes & Kettner Switchblade TSC100 combo. But at around $2500 CDN, that's not going to happen.

3,137

(580 replies, posted in Bands and artists)

Porcupine Tree    "Even Less"    Tillburg, 2008

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BLJPCcjg7I

A haunting slide riff opens this piece, featuring some delicious sustain on Wilson's PRS guitar. Again, drummer Gavin Harrison showcases his considerable talent, and the song takes a very cool turn at around the 4:20 mark. It's these surprise changes in direction that so may Prog Rock songs have, that I find so very interesting and engaging.

3,138

(5 replies, posted in Electric)

For many years, guitar manufacturers have done anything and everything to make their guitars into bonafide eye-candy. Here are a few that really catch my attention, as ones I'd be proud to be seen holding & playing. Let the drooling commence!

1) Ibanez EGEN8 (Herman Li signature model):
http://www.ibanez.co.jp/products/images/eg2015/EGEN8_PLB_1P_01.png

2) ESP Eclipse 40th Anniversary TE
http://cdn.growassets.net/user_files/esp/product_images/000/015/870/xlarge.png?1421887743

3) PRS Custom 408
http://briansguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/DSC_8338.jpg

4) Godin xTSA Koa
http://static.musicbusiness.fr/media/catalog/product/cache/9/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/g/o/godin-xtsa-koa-top-1.jpg

5) Diamond DBZ "Bolero" FM Plus
http://www.dbzguitars.com/images/productimages/BOLFMP3/BOLFMP3_v2.png

Ready to take my order? One of each, please! If any other Chordians have pics for this pageant, they'd be most welcome. I think there was a Miss Universe pageant a few weeks ago, but since most of those kids are young enough to be my granddaughters, I'd honestly rather look at or play a great guitar.

3,139

(11 replies, posted in My local band and me)

Baldguitardude wrote:

Thank you but Marshall eeeek! there was a Fender Deville 410 next to the Marshall but it was obscured by my rump. smile

Not to be too cute, but I guess I hit a "bad note" mentioning Marshall (LOL). Didn't see your DeVille in the background. It would seem just from observation, that single-coil players prefer Fender amps (DeVille, Twin, etc.) while humbucker players prefer Marshall, Hughes & Ketner, etc. They certainly have their distinctive sounds, so I guess it's all about preferences.

3,140

(11 replies, posted in My local band and me)

That's a nice, tight arrangement ... especially since you haven't gigged for a while. Well done! Your drummer & bassist really kept things together well during your soloing, and I love the clean sound from your Marshall. BGD rocks!

3,141

(6 replies, posted in Music theory)

Haven't a clue, Strummerboy. I have heard that many classical composers put signature note combos in their pieces, like an artist signs a painting. Don't know if that thinking applies, but it came to mind.

3,142

(9 replies, posted in Acoustic)

My first guitar teacher (Dad) suggested I mute the strings, and strum the guitar like a washboard when learning the rhythm of a song. I've always found his suggestion useful, and will still do that to this day. Had to do it to pick up the strum pattern for "Afternoons & Coffeespoons" (Crash Test Dummies) as it's quite fast.

Sounds like you're having a lot of fun figuring things out, which is one of the many blessings of music.

3,143

(6 replies, posted in Acoustic)

I have a felt pick I use on the bass sometimes, and will mess around with it on the 6-string once in a while. It's nice for softer, ballad type of songs. "Old Fashioned Love Song" by Three Dog Night comes to mind, as one I'll often use the felt pick for. The windings of the strings will accumulate a bit of fuzz from it, so they need to be wiped afterwards ... nothing serious.

3,144

(2 replies, posted in Bands and artists)

Holy Moley!

I see that his name is Mariuz Goli. It would be fascinating to hear his story, although if the circumstances say anything there could be some heartaches in there. His style has a heavy Flamenco influence, which reminds me of Benjamin Woods.

3,145

(17 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

Hello, JJJ ...

Thanks for sharing your personal loss, and our best wishes are certainly with you. Losing your best friend of 30 years or more can't be easy, but we're happy that you both had so many enjoyable years together.

3,146

(9 replies, posted in Other string instruments)

This is an age old debate.

A harpsichord is considered a stringed instrument because the plectrum actually pluck the strings, whereas piano strings produce a note when they're struck, like a xylophone or glockenspiel ... and they're considered percussion instruments.

In the end, who really cares where we put them in our classification systems? It's all about the music!

3,147

(26 replies, posted in My local band and me)

I haven't gigged since university days (late 70's) but there certainly is one "performance" I recall from Grade 12. If I'd thought through the outcome, I never would have done it.

During Grade 12 winter carnival, my school had a talent night. I entered as a solo act, and did a 3-song tribute to my fallen hero (Jimi Hendrix) who had died 2 years before. After doing "The Star Spangled Banner" and "Purple Haze", I finished with a Hendrix-style version of "O Canada", closing it with the opening barres of Brahm's Lullaby. I was the typical angry young man, who viewed my country as an apathetic nation asleep at the switch. Well, sir ... the fireworks from that!

A sound lecture in the Principal's office the next day by senior staff left me no doubt as to what their opinion was of my disrespect for our national anthem. And looking back, they were absolutely right. It's a memory I'll always have, but more important is was a lesson I truly needed to learn.

3,148

(580 replies, posted in Bands and artists)

Landmarq    "Thunderstruck"    Poland, 2006

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCE5urIqjM4

Here's another high-quality prog band, performing in the same venue (Wyspianski Theatre, Katowice, Poland) as the Pendragon entry. Although it has a small stage that bands like Pink Floyd wouldn't fit on, the muli-tier seating and ceiling height of this type of concert hall are great for the audience and the ambient sound.

The real highlight (for me) in this song is the bass playing of Steve Gee, who is also doing the majority of the visual cues to the other band members throughout. If you give this a listen and focus on it, it will likely amaze you as much as it did me. The opening riff with the bass, synth (Mike Varty), and guitar (Uwe D'Rose) following each other at high-speed is also amazing. Female vocalists aren't often featured as the leads in this genre, but Tracy Hitching's power and emotion are excellent, with a style reminiscent of Anne Wilson from Heart. This is 14-minutes of seriously good music; well-composed and well-played ... hope y'all enjoy it.

3,149

(1,560 replies, posted in Bands and artists)

Great song!

First time I heard this was on a record by Long John Baldry. As others have already said, there wouldn't have been too many 12-strings around in 1944, let alone being recorded for blues.

3,150

(4 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)

Strummerboy Bill wrote:

The unwritten rule of Rockabilly: "The only word that rhymes with 'love' must always be 'turtledove' " wink

Bill

Now THAT's funny! Good one, Strummerboy!